pitney



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. PITNEY.

FIRE ESGAPB. No. 277,340. Patented May 8,1883.

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(Nd Model.) 2 sh eets -sheet 2.

, A. L. PITNEY.

FIRE ESCAPE. I No. 277,340. Patented May 8,1883.

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V UN TED STATES PATENT OF ICE,

ALBERT L. PITNEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,340, dated May 8,1883.

Application filed February 16, [883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT L. PITNEY, of

-Washington, in the District of Columbia,

' ot' the same.

' My invention relates to that class known as friction fireescapes. Thecharacteristic feature is a device provided with a tortuous channel, inwhich a rope is placed, and when in use one of said ropes is secured tothe building which is afire, at or above thelocation of the person to berescued, who attaches himself to said device and slides down said ropeto the ground, the tortuous channel serving to cause so much frictionthat the descent will not be dangerously rapid.

This improvement may be constructed in a great many forms and its partsmay be arranged in a great variety of ways without involving anydifference in principle-4o wit,

the construction in two parts, which may be separated to permit theinsertion of the rope into the tortuous channel. Some of the severalforms which have suggested themselves to me have, however, their ownspecial advantages, aud my purpose is to ask separate patents for them,limited to the special structure shown, and subordinate to this patent.For convenience, therefore, I will describe herein the structure which Iprefer, and regard the same as typical of all. Therefore, that othersmay more fully understand my invention, I will 'particularly describesaid structure, having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-I Figure l is a perspective view of my device open. Fig.2 is a top viewof the same. Fig. 31s a perspective view, partly in section, showing thesame in operative condition.

A is a shell, preferably made of cast metal, containing within it thetortuous channel a. In this instance the shell A is elliptical in form,and the entrance b is at one extremity of the ellipse and its exit (I atthe other extremity, the channel a passing once and a half around theellipse. The cover D is hinged or otherwise movably secured to the shellA at one side, and at the opposite side it is provided with a slip-bolt,e, or other proper fastening, so that the channel a may be opened orclosed at will for the application or removal of the rope F.

It is necessary to provide means whereby the friction on the rope maybevaried to accommodate it to the different weights of different persons.I therefore insert frictionplates 9 in the-channel a, and provide ascrew, h, or other pressure device, to compress the rope between saidplate or plates and the side of the channel a with more or lesspressure.

In the device constructed as shown in the drawings hereto attached, theplates 9 are on opposite sides of the ellipse, and the screws h are maderight and left and in corresponding son who wishes to descend the ropeF.

Having described myinvention, what I claim as new is- 1. The shell A,provided with an open tortuous channel, a, combined with the cover D,hinged at one side to said shell and secured at the other side by aslip-bolt or other proper fastening, as set forth. 7

2. The shell A, provided with a tortuous channel, a, and a hinged cover,I), combined with the friction-plates g and screw or screws h, operatedby a handle, I, substantially as set forth.

3. The shell A, provided with the channel a, substantially elliptical inshape, as shown, combined with one or more friction-plates, g, and screwh, whereby the frictional pressure may be varied at pleasure.

4. The shell A, substantially elliptical in shape, provided with thechannel a and cover D, combined with the elastic friction-plates g g andscrew h, operated by the handle 1, whereby both of said plates arecaused to press for the proper and safe suspension of the per-' orrelease the rope by the same movement of of which is right-handed andthe other leftthe handle I. handed threads, and the handle I, havingnuts [0 5. The shell A, substantially elliptical inmatchingsaidscrews,substantiallyassetforth.

form, provided with the covered channel a,

5 passing once and one-half time around said ALBERT PITNEY' shell,combined with friction-plates g g, placed Witnesses:

within said channel and on opposite sides of R. D. SMITH,

said shell, and the operative screws h h, one J. O. TURNER.

